Two local artists share the bill during August at Thump Coffee in downtown Bend. Annie Johnston’s mosaic mandalas and Jason Darlings’ tattoo-inspired watercolor and ink drawings are on exhibit throughout the month. Thump Coffee will be open until 9pm for First Friday Art Walk, August 6.

Johnston explains that mandalas are contemplative tools for moving between the inner and outer experience. “When you look at or make a mandala you resonate with the essence of your deepest self and the collective spirit. Mandalas help to restore a feeling of peace and calm, while imparting an innate understanding of the mysteries of the universe.”

Mandalas, Johnston says, are typically circular and are frequently associated with Celtic and Tibetan art, but there are examples of them in nearly every culture. Over the centuries, they have attained great symbolic value combining the properties of science, art, and nature.

“While working in my garden, I decided to create a series of mandalas using different materials — tile, stone, glass, metal,” says Johnston. “The patterns and rhythms of nature find their way into these mosaic mandalas.”

Darling is an apprentice tattoo artist at 932 Tattoo in Bend. His watercolor and ink works reflect tattoo art and design, he says. For more about Jason Darling, visit his MySpace page.